Musical instrument.



PATENTED DEC. 15, 1903.

' J. G. DEAGAN. v MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED HA1. 6, 1903.

Patented December 15, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. DEAGAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,340, dated December 15, 1903.

Application filed March 6, 1903- Serial No. 146,480. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN C. DEAGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,

have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Musical Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to musical instruments wherein vibrating or resonant bars are employed, and has for its object the provision of improved means whereby the tonal effect due to the vibration in such bars may be increased.

My invention relates particularly to that class of instruments employing vibrant bars of selected material that varyin length and size according to the tone that is to be produced. Hitherto it has been proposed to associate with these vibrant bars tubes whereby the sounds produced by the said bars are augmented. I associate with each tube a mouth that corresponds at its opening to the entire area of the associated bar. There is desirably provided just back of the mouthopening a pair of transversely-disposed ribs which serve to position the bar contained within the flaring mouth. The vibrant bars are most desirably disposed in vertical planes, though I do not Wish to be limited to this arrangement. When such a disposition of the bars is eflected, the upper transverse rib or other suitable support is provided with a pin that passes through a hole that is desirably provided in the vibrant bar at a nodal pointin such bar, so that said bar hangs on a nodal point, being free to sensitively vibrate. The vibrant bar at its lower portion is loosely confined between a transverse rib to the rear thereof and a pair of cars in front. The vibrant bar is desirably disposed within the flaring mouth extension of the tube, preferably having its front face substantially flush with the rim-surface of the mouth.

It will be understood that the sizes of the bars, the tubes, and the mouths of the tubes vary or are graduated according to the musical scale.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated two different units constructed in accordance with preferred embodiments of my invention, the illustration of additional units to show musical instruments for producing a series of difierent sounds not being deemed essential to an understanding of the invention.

In the said drawings, Figure l is a front view of one form of the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective of a modified construction. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a view in cross-section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a view in crosssection on line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the different f1 gures.

The bar a is formed of any suitable material. To secure the desired augmentation of the sound produced by the bar a, I usually employ a tube 19, which may extend transversely of the bar, according to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, or may extend longitudinally of the bar, according to the construction illustrated in Fig. 3. Each tube is flared into a mouth 0, that has a rim d elongated to surround the bar a, that conforms in contour to the bar.

Referring first more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the mouth converges toward the tube proper, preferably having the shape indicated, so that no sharp corners are interposed in the path of the sound-waves. The mouth of the tube is desirably made suificiently large so that there is no tendency to choke the sound. The sides 6 e of the month are preferably substantially fiat, while the endsf thereof are formed each with double reverse curves, so that the sound-waves may be converged into the tube 1).

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 3 the rim d, circumscribing the mouth-opening, extends longitudinally of the tube Z), the top portion g of the mouth extension being preferably curved, so that it, with the semicylindrical side portion of the mouth extension, may serve to properly direct the air-waves into the tube b. The mouth extension constitutes a resonator that lies beneath and which substantially subtends the entire vibrating bar a. I do not wish to be limited to the length of the portion 1). The tubes b are the sounding-bars a.

said ribs, to lie substantially flush with the surface of the said rim. The upper rib h supports a pin 7c,that passes through an opening Z at the nodal point in the bar a. Where the pin 70 passes through the bar the said pin is desirably provided with a rubber collar m,

while a suitable thumb-nut 0 is provided to prevent the vibrating bar from being dislodged. At the lower rib h there is desirably provided a pair of ears 19, that serve to 006perate with the said rib 'to hold the bar a in place. The ears, ribs, and thumb-nut are preferably provided with felt facings t. I do not wish to be limited, however, to the means by which the bar a is held in place.

A composite instrument containing devices of my invention may desirably have the tubes 1) equipped with sliding plugs or caps r,which are adjustable for the purpose of bringing the air-columns in the tubes in unison with I do not wish to be limited to this method of tuning.

To increase the length of the air-column with a given length of tube, I provide in the tube a longitudinally-disposed diaphragm or 5 partition 8 and a transversely-disposed diaphragm i, that unites with the diaphragm s to form therewith a supplemental tubular length, the partition 8 terminating sufficiently above the adjustable cap so that the sound- 40 waves may freely circulate throughout the double lengths of the air-column thus provided.

The instrument is voiced by affording a space M between the vibrant bar and the res- 5 onator, such space being adjusted in size to suit the volume of sound emanating. The space preferably entirely surrounds the vibrant bar.

In order to prevent the air-column in the instrument shown in Fig. 3 from terminatso that the said month has sides that converge away from the vibrant bar, as in the form illustrated in the remaining figures,the sides ff being illustrated in such latter fig ures as converging away from the vibrant bars.

It will be seen that I have caused each bar a to be entirely subtended by a resonator, so

that the sound-waves emanating from the entire bar or toward the said resonator will be fully affected by the resonator.

While I have placed the sounding-bar within the mouth portion of the resonator,I do not wish to be limited in all embodiments of the invention to this precise location.

It will be understood that this instrument is played by any suitable means that will set the bar into vibrationas, for example, a hammer or a bow.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the devices of my invention herein indicated without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not wish, therefore, to be limited to the precise construction shown.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent V 1. In a musical instrument, the combination with a vibrant bar, of a tube acting as a resonator therefor, said tube being closed at the end farthest from the vibrant bar and provided with a diaphragm within the same extending longitudinally thereof, and a second diaphragm transversely thereof subdividing the interior of the tube into a continuous air-column of a length greater than the tube, the latterdiaphragni beinglocated nearest the vibrant bar while the former diaphragm terminates short of the closed end of the tube, substantially as described.

2. In a musical instrument, the combination with a vibrant bar, of a tube acting as a resonator therefor, said tube being closed at the end farthest from the vibrant bar and provided with a diaphragm within the same extending longitudinally thereof, and a second diaphragm transversely thereof subdividing the interior of the tube into a continuous air-column of a length greater than the tube, substantially as described.

3. In a musical instrument, the combination with a tube, of a vibrant bar, said tube having an extension provided with an opening approximating in contour, the contour of the bar, in which opening the bar is received, substantially as described.

4. In a musical instrument, the combination with a tube having a flaring extension constituting with the balance of the tube a resonator, of a vibrant bar before the said extension and means upon said extension support-ing the bar at a nodal point, substantially as described.

5. In a musical instrument, the combination with a tube having a flaring extension, of a vibrant bar set before the opening of said extension, said opening affording communication between substantially the entire bar and the air within the tube, substantially as described.

6. In a musical instrument, the combination with a tube, of a vibrant bar, the tube having a flaring extension, the extension having an opening whose contour substantially conforms to the contour of the bar at which opening the said bar is located, substantially as described.

7. In a musical instrument, the combina= tion with a vibrant bar, of a resonator having an elongated opening surrounding the IO stantially as described.

9. In a musical instrument, the combination with a vibrant bar of a resonator having sides converging away from the vibrant bar, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe [5 my name this 2d day of March, A. D. 1903.

JOHN G. DEAGAN. Witnesses:

J ESSIE L. DAVIS, GEORGE L. CRAGG. 

